Wilton High School graduate conducts research at Bates College

Lillian Chang of Wilton, a senior at Bates College, spent the summer researching gene regulatory pathway analysis in freshwater algal symbioses with Wagener Family Professor of Equity and Inclusion in STEM April Hill.

Chang, the child of Neil Chang and Wemeng Le of Wilton, Conn., and a 2016 graduate of Wilton High School, was among more than 240 students who received support from Bates in order to accept summer work that facilitated professional exploration and reflection about fulfilling future career paths. Chang's research was funded by a National Science Foundation faculty grant.

"Conducting research during the summer can be a transformative experience for students," said Malcolm Hill, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. "This work not only makes a direct contribution to new knowledge collection and ongoing studies, it promotes meaningful professional development within potential fields of study."

Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates is internationally recognized as a leading liberal arts college, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin. Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world.With a commitment to affordability, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion or national origin. Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world.